Hey folks, just thought I'd break the ice with an introductory post... I'm a long time NaNo-er (first novel in 2002), and this'll be my second time noveling in Turkey.
Haven't thought too much about plot or content yet. I am a planner rather than a spontaneous writer, but I'm going on a ten-day Vipassana retreat next week, and I figure that in itself will give me plenty of ideas and inspiration for storylines. If not, I'll still have nine days left after the retreat to come up with something. Not worried.
Historically I've written spooky stuff with a supernatural twist (think poor man's Stephen King) - I keep saying I'd like to write a comedy one of these days, but I can't seem to be funny on cue, and NaNo's all about writing on cue.
I'm all for meeting up with other writers, but I'm not sure how practical that will be as you guys are always Istanbul- or Ankara-based and I'm down here in beautiful, sunny Antalya. But if you think we're within reach of each other let me know.
As far as meeting up on the internet goes, feel free to friend me at twitter (http://twitter.com/melissamaples), or check out my blog at http://melissamaples.com/ (of particular interest to expats in Turkey, RSS available).
I wish everyone amazing happiness in their writing.
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different things altogether: http://melissamaples.com/
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Oct 17, 2007 - 12 36
Merhaba..Greetings to all you Turks and friends of Turks...this will be my second attempt at nano..last year I was inspired and managed to get 5 chapters completed...I will start a new novel this year and see what will transpire...I live in Ankara and look forward to meeting up with all you creative linguists....lifting my tea glass in comraderie....tanibear (this year aka crackplot)
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Oct 17, 2007 - 23 01
Yay, finally someone else on the forums! I thought it was just me.
If I were anywhere near Ankara we'd totally go out for coffee... as it stands we'll have to settle for forum chat. :-D
Best of luck with your novel, can't wait to read it!
----------different things altogether: http://melissamaples.com/
51,105 / 50,000
Oct 18, 2007 - 01 35
Hello from Istanbul, from Arnavutköy. This is my first NaNoWriMo. I haven't written any fiction in years and years and hardly know where to start....but I am taking notes and trying to figure out a plot line. I write every day for work, but it is non-fiction, technical stuff, so I think page count will be less a problem than plot...
I'm writing about a modirn character in Istanbul for research on a 19th century event. I don't know if that qualifies as historical fiction or not.
Two weeks to go!
Em (whose is from the US, but living in Istanbul since 1987)
----------Worms, Roxanne, worms!
51,766 / 50,000
Oct 18, 2007 - 05 00
Hey, I'm living proof that not having a plot isn't an obstacle... I've completed three of these things and never once did I have any idea about where any of them were going. It's difficult to describe, but once you get the momentum rolling it kind of carries itself.
I realise now that I've actually come across your web site before... it was seeing "dressage" mentioned in your interests that jogged my memory.
Anyway, just thought I'd chime in and say hello.
----------different things altogether: http://melissamaples.com/
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Oct 22, 2007 - 02 32
Hi all,
This is my fourth year at NaNoWriMo, but I've spent all the others in Montreal or Toronto. Now here I am in Istanbul, and I have no idea what I will write about. Ah well, that will come. Would love to meet up for cay and a writerly chat with whoever is around!
Jacqueline
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Oct 31, 2007 - 08 35
Hi, I'm afraid I'm another expat writing from Turkey, and I'm working on the Aegean coast right now, so not near anyone. Nice to meet you all though! It's my first NaNoWriMo, and I'm planning to write a historical adventure novel involving many of the cultures interacting in the Mediterranean and Turkey in the 12th century (sloppily researched due to time constraints, of course).
50,809 / 50,000
Oct 31, 2007 - 11 48
Hi! I'm delighted to have found a Turkish crowd on the site! I'm an expat living in Izmir and this is my first attempt at Nano properly - I belong to a writing website that ran it's own NaNo in March 2006 and I did it.
I was born and raised in Zimbabwe in Southern Africa, leaving there in 2003 for Greece after my husband was made redundant because of the collapse of the tobacco industry. He got a job in Europe, and we spent 3 years in Thessaloniki in Greece before moving to Turkey November 21 last year.
Happy writing! And good luck with NaNo!
5,296 / 50,000
Nov 1, 2007 - 02 41
Welcome to the podium and the fantastic corner of the writing world. I hope to see many many posts here in the Turkish region. It would be great fun if each part of Turkey had a gathering of writers so they could begin and end this momentuous event with a party....may you all have floods of creative insight and make your 50,000 word goals....
Until next time.....happy writing
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Nov 4, 2007 - 02 12
I'm so excited!
Not only have I found like-minded scribers (or wannabe in my case!) but you are in Turkey!
I'm in Istanbul and only found out about this website etc today, so I'm already behind! I have no plot, nothing but, reading here that that doesn't matter, I just have to set about it. So, I will, starting today!
I'm English and have been in sunny Istanbul since 1999, bursting to create something! Felt that coming here was the way and it's been a long wait.
Love to meet up for a coffee or similar - Taksim area? I'm moving to Cihangir in a few weeks' time and hoping that the change of air and a sea view will provide inspiration!
Good luck if you have already got stuck in!
55,159 / 50,000
Nov 6, 2007 - 17 43
I thought I'd introduce myself to this group, mainly because most of the action in my novel takes place in İstanbul, Bursa, İzmit, etc. I'm currently in Lawrence, Kansas, but I get to Turkey whenever I can and hope to get back for an extended period of time soon.
I subscribed to the region because I always feel there at heart... how I envy you guys over there! Stuff pretty much writes itself, except in the case of the person from Bodrum, where I wouldn't be inside if you paid me.
Here's to a great writing month for all of you.
Şerefe
1,885 / 50,000
Nov 8, 2007 - 08 56
Oh boy am I behind! I'm blaming this on finding myself in the middle of a plot that
now requires researching. I don't want to make it up partly because I'm a perfectionist
at heart and partly because I'll have to rewrite the damn thing when I've got the into.
Wish I'd known about this before then I could have been ready!
Hope you're all going along apace! Bryan, you've nearly got there already - how did you do that?!
Next time you're over, let us know - it would be great for us all to meet up?!
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Jun 11, 2008 - 05 22
Hello! Yet another expat, living in Istanbul... This will be my first NaNoWriMo. I moved out here last August from El Salvador, Central America with my partner, who gave me the opportunity to pursue an online writers' course and to have a crack at writing for a living. It's taken a long time to find my rhythm and way of working, but I finally feel as though I'm heading into The Zone! Have been planning a novel in between other projects for almost a year - don't know whether to start writing it again in November, or to start planning another one - i hoped to have a fair bit of work done on it before then!
Would be great to make contact with some other writers in Istanbul - and elsewhere, as I get around a fair bit...
1,885 / 50,000
Jun 22, 2008 - 01 33
Hi Ginnie! How's your first year going? I have stalled, as far as the writing is going; there seems to be so much going on (like work!) that I haven't got time to sit and write ...
If you are around, it would be great to meet up for a coffee, but I'm not sure how we go about contacting each other - posting our mobile numbers, or our email addresses doesn't sound like a good plan - far too risky to my mind! Any ideas?
I'm in Istanbul until 11 August, then off to the UK to see family and friends and back again ready to start work (at work, as opposed to writing book work) on 8 Sept. Really hope to get together with you and any others who are braving the Istanbul hot and sunny weather!